Franken-Fashion Masks

We asked thirteen of today’s most imaginative designers to create a mask from scraps for the current Dazed October issue.

Monster fashion took over the current Dazed October issue, and inspired by Alexander McQueen’s comment on throwaway materials and Rodarte’s A/W 09 Frankenstein collection, the Franken-Fashion mask project was born. Thirteen designers delved into their studio scraps and created new ways of concealment and performance and Dazed Digital have extended interviews with eleven of the designers to find out more about their monster creations.

The images here, shot by Daniel Jackson and styled by Karen Langley were also were also exhibited at the Red Bull Fashion Factory for the duration of London Fashion Week.

JEAN-CHARLES DE CASTELBAJAC sent us a note to accompany his rubber-handed mask.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ROBERTO CAVALLIWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? I
was inspired by my A/W09 Collection for this mask. I found elements
like studs,metal mesh,zips, that I applied on a found carnival mask
from a party at my villa a few years ago. I wanted to create something
strong and visually arresting without being grotesque or macabre: As in
Frankenstein I try to make a clone however instead of blood I used
diamonds and metal mesh and leather instead of skin.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask?A
mask is mysterious it hides a face and an identity. It asks to be
removed to be discovered and conquered, a women should feel strong
sensuous and in control.

What does the term "anti-fashion" mean to you? For me, antifashion means to be individual, unique, discover, create a style and stick to it.

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? If I was Dr. Frankenstein I would try to clone myself

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? Metal mesh leather and studs left over from my winter collection.

What was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? I wanted to do something kinky that involved blindfolds. I found this great latex tape that was meant to wrap across the eyes.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask? How would the person wearing your mask feel? Obviously the mystery factor, people tend to do things when they are masked that they wouldn’t normally do

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? A hot sexy man.

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? Excess latex tape

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ALEXANDER MCQUEENWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? The mask is made of old childrens toys, I was going through some of the research from the AW09 collection and this was something we were developing which we ended up not using for the collection

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask? How would the person wearing your mask feel? You can do naughty things without getting caught! - you'll feel like a right little devil.

What does the term "anti-fashion" mean to you? The same as antichrist

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? The ideal lover .

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? The toys - they are like the childhood I never had.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________BERNHARD WILLHELMWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? This mask was used for our SS 2010 men's presentation. the collection was based on the idea of camouflage. The lampshade which we used for the mask was painted during the show with "camouflage", it was painted while worn by a model.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask? How would the person wearing your mask feel? With this mask you can blend in an environment, you can be the lampstand and be the light.

What does the term "anti-fashion" mean to you? An alternative to fashion, proposed to us by the media - action, reaction in its best case

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? Definitely not a human, I would go more abstract

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? The mask is made with two elemants: the lampshade and an inside-headpiece to fix the mask on the head. I would consider the lampshade and headpiece equally important

Bernhard Willhelm also sent in a note to accompany his lampshade mask.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________MARTIN MARGIELAWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? Our
mask is the combination of cut outs of white fabrics, left-overs from
the fabrics we use to make our furniture covers; different shades and
fabrics of whites assembled to structure a face. The result is quite
extreme, as the recomposed face is very angular and un-natural. We
wanted the mask to ressemble a human face, yet giving it a shape and
structure that would be very un-human.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask?Our
models often have their faces covered in what could be considered as
masks. The purpose is to draw the attention on the garment, the body
and the movement of the two together. This mask is quite different, as
when worn, the attention will be on the face.

What does the term "anti-fashion" mean to you? Not much honestly ! any 'anti' movement or concept is quite far from what we stand for.

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? A cure for skin cancer.

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? The lack of air.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________PETER PILOTTOWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief? We wanted to create a sort of fossilized creature.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask?You
can hide your expressions and reactions - we thought that it is quite
important to hide the eyes too as leaving them visible would be almost
too revealing, not hidden enough and allow to read from them....

If you were Dr Frankenstein today what would you create? A new creature with a new shape of body for new chances and challenges...

What was your favourite unwanted thing used to make the mask? We used left-overs from our AW09 collection.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________RICCARDO TISCIWhat was the inspiration behind your mask? How did you arrive at your solution to the brief?I
used elements that I found lying around the studio playing with the
contrast between real rubbish like cigarette butts sprayed black and
broken glass to more noble and precious ‘couture’ materials like the
geometric jet black crystals that I love so much.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about wearing a mask? For
me the idea of a mask is not about hiding something but about
liberation and having the freedom to play with your personality; the
extremes of your character and how you interact with others.I feel
that there is also this kind of folkloristic side to masks…the story
telling angle which inspired my mask, as well. I imagine that this
could be the character from some dark gothic tale.

Click onto the next page to discover more about the masks that Walter Van Beirendonck, Hussein Chalayan, Gareth Pugh, Marios Schwab and Nasir Mazhar created for Dazed & Confused.